The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta's Neighborhood Fund Initiative is accepting applications for its spring Neighborhood Fund Leadership Institute, which will run from March through June.

Applications are due by 5 p.m. Monday. Applications, as well as guidelines, are available online at www.atlcf.org. See Special Initiatives/Neighborhood Fund.

The Neighborhood Fund Leadership Institute (NFLI) provides leadership development for emerging leaders who reside within the Community Foundation's 23-county area, which includes Newton County. NFLI provides free leadership development training including asset-based community development, understanding leadership, effective communications, values identification, group dynamics, problem solving, and decision making, organizational development and community organizing.

The NFLI provides structured curriculum that meets up to two times per month for five months. At the conclusion of the NFLI, participants have gained skills such as leading groups, project planning, recruiting and maintaining volunteers, understanding and celebrating diversity and more.

Participants also receive assistance in helping to develop a neighborhood-strengthening project.

Once participants complete the program, they are encouraged to apply for a Neighborhood Fund grant. The Neighborhood Fund is a grant-making program of The Community Foundation that is open to low-to-moderate income community groups, associations, and organizations throughout the 23-county service area.

The Neighborhood Fund offers planning grants of up to $500, project grants of up to $5,000 and community investment grants of up to $10,000.